It’s that time of year and we’ve all recently opened the highest heating bill of the season. I’ve had people tell me that this is the highest bill in years. Whether it’s the highest or not is unimportant; the important factor is that it’s high. The important questions are: What can be done?
Could you benefit from additional insulation? What’s the right amount of insulation? Is there insulation in your walls? What about the drafts? All of these are great questions and they do have answers.
The only way to really know what’s going on in your home is to have an Energy Audit performed. There are a couple types of Energy Audits; there is the basic walk through whereas you’ll have an educated auditor walk through your home and give you educated guesses and then there’s the comprehensive audit where an educated auditor uses sophisticated instruments like the ones recommended by the Department of Energy, local utility companies and the EPA. These instruments include blower doors, infrared cameras, and laser thermometers. With the use of these instruments it’s like the auditor has X-ray vision and can see hot and cold spots invisible to the naked eye such as drafts and inadequate insulation. He or she will be able to tell exactly where your wasting energy and what you can do to remedy the situation.
Here’s the best part, DTE/Michcon customers can get a rebate of $100 just to have the Energy Audit performed in there homes. There is an additional $100 rebate if eligible energy improvements are made. There is also up to $1500 in rebates for eligible energy improvements. That’s up to $1700 from DTE/Michcon for making your home more energy efficient. Don’t forget about the federal energy tax credits either, there’s another $1500 that can be put to good use and help you save money on energy costs. Visit the DTE website www.yourenergysavings.com to find a list of certified energy auditors. Keep in mind that your auditor must be certified in order for you to qualify for the rebates.
By having a Comprehensive Energy Audit performed at your home you’ll learn what you can do to save on energy costs and even make your home healthier and more comfortable.